Coaxial cable connector



A. D. VAN HORSSEN ETAL 3,480,722

Nov. 25, 1969 COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 9, 1967 FIG.2

FIG.I

INVENTORS.

WYDELL W. HABIG RAYMOND E. SHORTELL VOnHORSSEN ARDEN D GEORGE C. SMILEY United States Patent COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR Arden D. Van Horssen, Edina, Wydell W. Habig, Fridley, and Raymond E. Shortell, Isanti, Minn., and George C. Smiley, Winchester, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to United-Carr Incorporated, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,839

Int. Cl. H02g 15/08 U.S. Cl. 174-87 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is a connector for making a right angle attachment with a coaxial cable. The connection is made by providing a threaded engagement with the external conductor and a fixed connection with the internal conductor and bending the cable into an are within the connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking, there are two ways of going around a bend for producing a right angle connection in high frequency coaxial cable work. You may utilize two intersecting machine cylinders, however, in order for the machine cylinders to work efficiency you must match the diameter of the inner conductor of the cable to the external diameter of the cavity. This construction produces a very sharp right angle bend in the cable with a resulting high electrical loss.

Another method, in forming a connection around a bend, is to intersect two tubes at right angles and then bend the cable around through the tubes. Although in this caSe the angle is not as sharp as in the first method it is still sharp enough to provide a high electrical loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coaxial cable connectors and more specifically to right angle coaxial cable connectors.

The applicants utilize a threaded member which is len gageable with the external surface of the coaxial cable and through the use of a slot formed in the body element of the connector provided a means of creating a smooth arc in the bent cable while simultaneously assuring a fixed engagement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the right angle connector.

FIG. 2 is the top plan view of the connector incorporated with an externally grooved coaxial cable. The connector has its cap removed; and a portion of the packing removed.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the connector showing the sealing sleeve and part of the cable in full.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The right angle connector comprising a cap 10 a compressor cap 12 a sealing sleeve 14 a clamping member 16 and a housing 18.

The cap 10 is cylindrical in configuration having a ,thneaded parameter and a slot diametrically formed across its upper surface.

The compressor member or clamp 12 has a tubular body portion, open at both ends, and has a longitudinal engagement slot 20 formed in the body portion which is open at a terminal end thereof. The inner wall of the body portion is tapered from bottom to top.

The sealing sleeve 14 is formed from a flexible insulice lated material such as neoprene, is tubular in configuration having an external taper, if desirable, and is open at both ends. A rectangular groove 22 is formed circumferentially around the outside surface of the sleeve 14 and in close proximity to a terminal end thereof.

The clamping member 16 comprises a head portion 24 and a shank portion 26 which uses a smaller external diameter than the head portion 24 and extends in right angle relations thereto. An aperture 28 is formed through the head portion 24 and continues as a core 30 in the Shank portion 26. A series of threads are for-med on the wall defining the aperture 28 and are continued in the core 30.

The housing 18 includes a body element 36 and a shell 32 which is generally tubular in configuration and includes external angular surfaces adapted to be engaged by a wrench or similar tool. The shell 32 is open at both ends and includes internal threading at its lower end and an internal groove 34 in close proximity to its upper end. The body element 36 is also tubular and has a base portion 38 almost closing off a mid-portion. A tubular extension 39 extends from the base 38 as shown in FIG- URE 3. The base portion 38 has a hole 40 formed through it which extends into an internal well which, in turn, opens into the main cavity of the body element 36. The internal well is of smaller diameter than the main cavity and thereby forms an internal circumferential shoulder 44. The external diameter of the body element 36 at the terminal end close to the base portion 38 is of reduced diameter to provide a necked portion 46. An external groove 48 is cut on the external surface of the base portion 38 a predetermined distance from the terminal end. At the terminal end of the body element 36 remote from the base portion 38 a longitudinal holding slot '50 is provided. The connector shell 32 with the body element 36 a C damp or ring 52 is engaged within the external groove 48 and then pressure is applied allowing the internal surface of the shell 32 to slide over C ring 52 until it is in line with the internal groove 34 and will snap into that groove locking the two parts together while maintaining one part in rotational relationship with the other.

The body element 36 could be provided with internal threading and thereby eliminate the necessity of the clamping member 16.

An inner pin contact 54 is soldered or otherwise attached to the inner conductor 56 after engaging an in sulating bushing 58 between the outer conductor 60 and the inner pin contact 54 as shown in FIGURE 3.

The sealing sleeve 14 is slipped onto the cable with the groove 22 close to a terminal end as partly shown in FIGURE 3. The clamping member or compressor nut 16 is threaded onto the cable with the shank portion 26 directed toward the end of the cable to which the inner pin contact 54 is attached.

The clamping member 16 is press-fitted into the body element 36 with the head portion 24 in superposed abutting relationship to the internal circumferential shoulder 44 and the shank portion 26 within the well 42 as shown in FIGURE 3. The well 42 is defined by the base portion 38 and the inner wall of the housing 18.

The cable is then bent so that the groove 22 is engaged with the edge of the arcuated slot or holding slot 50 in a tight friction fit. In this position the compressor clamp 12 is pushed down into the cavity formed by the body element 36 with the edges of the arcuate slot 20 engaged in the groove 22 behind the engagement of the holding slot 50. This latter operation securely holds the sealing sleeve 14 in engagement and also provides a means of protecting the coaxial cable from being crushed on engagement of the cap 10. The cap 10 is engaged to the body element 36 by threading it therewith until the lower surface butts against the internal flange of the compressor clamp 12.

A packing material 62 is put into the cavity formed by the body element 36 on top of the head portion 24 and around the coaxial cable as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The packing material 62 may be a conductive epoxy resin or a material consisting of closely packed strands of conductive material.

We claim:

1. The assembly of a coaxial cable connector and a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having an outer conductor and an inner conductor, the coaxial cable connector comprising a tubular housing having a first opening formed at one end, a second opening formed through a base portion, a slot formed in the wall of the housing and a coaxial cable having a sleeve circumscribing a portion of it, the coaxial cable having a sleeve circumscribing a portion of it, the coaxial cable having a terminal end engaged within the area defined by the second opening holding the outer conductor in electrical engagement with a Surface in the housing and the inner conductor electrically insulated from the housing and a portion of the sleeve being engaged with the edges of the slot whereby the coaxial cable is bent between the second opening and the slot.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slot is a longitudinal slot opening at the first opening and a groove is formed on the external surface of the sleeve which is the portion of the sleeve engaging the edges of the slot.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a tubular compression member open at 'both ends and having a longitudinal engagement slot opening at one of the ends, fitted within the housing and the edges of the longitudinal engagement slot is engaged with the groove of the sleeve.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 which is a clamping member having a head portion and a shank portion, of smaller external diameter than the head portion, extending therefrom, said clamping member having an axial core and the housing having an internal shoulder formed proximate the second opening and the clamping member engaged with the second opening and said head portion abutted against the internal shoulder and the core having means of engaging the coaxial cable.

5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means of engaging the coaxial cable formed in said core being a series of threads and said compression member having a tapered inner wall.

6; The assembly of a coaxial cable connector and a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having an outer conductor and an inner conductor, the coaxial cable connector comprising a tubular housing having a first opening formed at one end, a second opening formed through a base portion, a collet fitted against the base portion and provided with an internal surface, the terminal end of the coaxial cable having its inner conductor engaged to a contact and the outer conductor circumscribed in abutting relationship by the collet providing an electrical termination of the outer conductor and the coaxial cable being bent between the terminal end and the plane where the remaining portion of the cable reaches the housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,152,504 3/1939 Scott et a1. 174-87 XR 2,813,144 11/1957 Valach 174-87 3,151,212 9/1964 Rogers 174-79 DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

